Drew Brees admits he was bothered by shoulder injury after hit

Drew Brees was throwing ducks and looking like a cousin of Peyton Manning in the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, leading many to suggest he is physically done as a quarterback. But the veteran QB indicated after the game that something else might have been responsible for his poor showing.

Brees admitted after the 26-19 defeat that his shoulder was hurt on a big hit on the team’s third drive of the game.

Brees went 24/38 in the game for 255 yards and a touchdown. Although he said the shoulder bothered him, he downplayed its significance.

“That’s the season. Everybody’s dealing with something. … Just gotta get a little stronger, that’s all,” he said via ESPN’s Mike Triplett.

The 36-year-old also said the shoulder bothered him on some deep balls. That would explain this duck:

The Saints are now 0-2 following a disappointing 7-9 season last year. It’s not looking pretty in New Orleans, although the only bright side for Saints fans is that if Brees is injured, then his sub-par play can at least be explained by something other than old age.